Painting

Title:

Samuel Burns

Object Name:

Painting

Object ID:

2017.009

Date:

circa 1840

Description:

Portrait of Samuel Burns (1773-1849) of Rumney, NH. Oil on linen canvas. Vertical rectangle. Bust-length portrait of gray-haired man facing slightly left, eyes toward viewer; wearing white shirt, high white collar, black cravat, and black coat. In gold painted late 19th century wood frame with gesso beaded band on inside edge and leaf band around outside edged.

Material:

Textile

Dimensions:

H-30.25 W-25 inches

Provenance:

Samuel Burns was born in Hudson, NH, December 5, 1773, the son of George Burns, Jr. and Elizabeth Adams. Burns attended the public schools and moved to Rumney, NH, during the 1790s, where he farmed. He married Esther Blodgett (1778-1846) on November 9, 1797. Burns became a leader in town government and was elected in 1810 to the first of several terms in the state House of Representatives. He was also elected State Senator in 1831, Counselor in 1836, and presidential elector in 1840. In 1821 he was appointed Associate Justice for the Court of Sessions, Grafton County, followed by similar appointments in 1833, and 1842. Active in the state Democratic Party, he was also Vice President of the New Hampshire Temperance Society.

The portrait was donated by a friend of the widow of Morgan F. Osgood (1922-1993), of Nashua, NH, who was the great-great grandson of Samuel Burns (1773-1849) and Esther Blodgett (1778-1846).

Credit Line:

Gift of Ken Phillips, in memory of Dr. Morgan F. Osgood

People:

Burns, Samuel (1773-1849)

Subjects:

Burns, Samuel